JP5974547B2 - Polarization control apparatus, projector system, polarization control method, and image control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a polarization control device, a projector system, a polarization control method, and an image control method that perform three-dimensional image display.

Conventionally, a three-dimensional image display system that three-dimensionally represents a display image as a three-dimensional image has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).
A polarization method is known as a method for stereoscopically displaying a display image as a three-dimensional image.
In the polarization method, two parallax images having different polarization directions are projected by a liquid crystal projector (hereinafter referred to as a 3D (three-dimensional) projector) that supports display of a three-dimensional image, and the two parallax images are polarized by a difference in the polarization direction. This is a system in which the left eye and the right eye are separated by glasses or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In viewing a display image in the polarization method, light of an image that the viewer appreciates propagates in the order of 3D projector → polarization control device → screen → polarized glasses.

That is, when the projection light of the parallax image is emitted from the 3D projector, the polarization control device polarizes the projection light. For example, when the projection light is linearly polarized, the projection light of the right-eye image is left-circularly polarized, The projection light of the ophthalmic image is polarized to right circularly polarized light.
Then, each circularly polarized projection light is projected onto the screen, and the reflected light is incident on the viewer's eyes through polarized glasses with different polarization directions of the left and right glasses worn by the viewer. Then, the viewer appreciates the three-dimensional image using the parallax images incident on the right eye and the left eye.

JP 2009-122430 A

The 3D projector described in Patent Document 1 and the like described above is not only a front projection in which a viewer appreciates an image projected on a simple screen through polarized glasses, but also an image projected on the back of the screen from the front of the screen. There is a rear projection to appreciate.
Further, in any projection, if the distance between the polarization control device and the screen cannot be a straight line due to the problem of the structure of the room, etc., the projection light emitted from the polarization control device is 1 using a folding mirror. Reflected once or multiple times and projected onto the screen, the viewer appreciates using polarized glasses.

Here, as described above, for example, in the projection light projected on the screen, the polarization control device converts the projection light of the right-eye image to right-circular polarization and the projection light of the left-eye image to the left-circular polarization. In this case, each projection light is reflected on the screen so that the polarization direction is reversed left and right (by phase inversion due to specular reflection). For example, the polarized glasses are configured to correspond to one reflection, and the left eye side glass transmits right circularly polarized light, and the right eye side glass transmits left circularly polarized light.
That is, the projection light emitted from the polarization control device is reflected by the screen so that the polarization direction is reversed left and right, for example, right circularly polarized light becomes left circularly polarized light and left circularly polarized light becomes right circularly polarized light.

  Thus, the projection light of the image for the right eye that has become the left circularly polarized light with respect to the viewer's right eye is incident through the right eye side glass (transmitting the light of the left circularly polarized light) of the polarizing glasses. Further, the projection light of the image for the left eye that is right-circularly polarized with respect to the left eye of the viewer is incident through the left-eye glass of the polarizing glasses (transmits the light of right-circularly polarized light). Then, the viewer can appreciate the three-dimensional image using the parallax images of the right eye image incident on the right eye and the left eye image incident on the left eye.

On the other hand, when the number of times of reflection is an even number, the polarization of the projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image projected from the polarization control device is not reversed left and right when entering the polarizing glasses. .
For this reason, in the polarizing glasses, when the left eye side glass is configured to transmit right circularly polarized light and the right eye side glass transmits left circularly polarized light, the projection light of the right eye image is transmitted to the left eye and the left eye image is aligned to the right eye. The projected light is incident and the viewer cannot appreciate the correct three-dimensional image.
As described above, since the polarization characteristics of the right eye glass and the left eye glass of the polarizing glasses are fixed, depending on whether the number of times the projection light is reflected is an even number or an odd number, the left eye If the polarization directions of the image for the right eye and the image for the right eye cannot correspond to the transmission characteristics of the right eye side glass and the left eye side glass of the polarizing glasses, the viewer cannot appreciate the correct three-dimensional image.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. Even if the number of reflections until the projection light of the 3D projector enters the polarizing glasses is either an even number or an odd number, However, depending on whether the number of reflections of the projection light is even or odd, the 3D image can be correctly viewed in accordance with the polarization direction that transmits the light of the left and right glass of the polarized glasses without changing the polarization direction of the projection light. An object of the present invention is to provide a polarization control device, a projector system, a polarization control method, and an image control method.

The polarization control device of the present invention is a polarization control device that emits the projection light of the right-eye image and the left-eye image incident from the projector to the screen as different polarization directions, and the projection A liquid crystal plate that changes a polarization direction of light; and a control unit that controls the liquid crystal plate and sets the projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image to different polarization directions. The liquid crystal plate is interlocked with the mirror inversion processing of the image of the projector in accordance with a control signal indicating whether the projector performs mirror inversion of the right eye image and the left eye image. The polarization direction of the projection light in is controlled to be mirror-inverted.
The polarization control method of the present invention is a polarization control method for emitting projection light of a right-eye image and a left-eye image incident from a projector to a screen with different polarization directions, and the projection A process in which the polarization direction of light is polarized by the liquid crystal plate, and a process in which the control unit controls the liquid crystal plate so that the projection light of the right-eye image and the left-eye image has different polarization directions. The control unit is interlocked with the mirror reversal processing of the image of the projector by a control signal input from the projector and indicating whether the projector performs mirror reversal of the right eye image and the left eye image, Control of reversing the polarization direction of the projection light on the liquid crystal plate is performed.
With the above-described configuration, according to the present invention, the projector uses a mechanism for controlling the mirror reversal of the image that is generally mounted on the projector. As a control signal, mirror inversion of the polarization direction projected onto the screen can be controlled. Therefore, it is not necessary for the viewer to switch the setting of the polarization control device every time depending on the number of reflections of the projected light, and it is easy for the viewer to use, and the configuration of the polarization control device is also good. It becomes simple.

In the polarization control device of the present invention, when the control unit has an even number of reflections of the projection light, the polarization direction of the projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image is set in advance. When the number of reflections is an odd number, the polarization direction of each projection light of the right-eye image and the left-eye image is controlled to a polarization direction obtained by mirror-reversing a preset polarization direction. To do.
With the above-described configuration, according to the present invention, the polarization direction of the projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image depends on the number of reflections from the polarization controller to the polarizing glasses worn by the viewer. Since the right-eye image is incident on the right eye and the left-eye image is incident on the left eye, the left-eye image and the right-eye image are not reversed.

In the polarization control device according to the aspect of the invention, the control signal is a signal indicating that the mirror-inversion processing of the right-eye image and the left-eye image is performed in the projector according to the number of reflections of the projection light. The control unit performs control to mirror-invert the polarization directions of the projection lights of the right-eye image and the left-eye image in synchronization with the control signal.
With the configuration described above, according to the present invention, a projector for determining whether an image is mirror-inverted as well as inversion of the polarization direction is generally used for a projector depending on whether the number of reflections is even or odd. Control of mirror reversal of the polarization direction projected on the screen using a mechanism that allows the viewer to control the mirror reversal of the mounted image and using the switching signal to determine whether to reverse the image horizontally or not as a control signal Therefore, the viewer is easy to use without being aware of switching of the polarization direction of the projection light, and it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for controlling the polarization control device in the projector, and the polarization control device. The configuration is also simplified.

The projector system of the present invention controls a projector that emits projection light of each of an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye, a liquid crystal plate that polarizes a polarization direction of the projection light, the liquid crystal plate, A polarization control device including a control unit that sets each projection light of the image for the eye and the image for the left eye to different polarization directions, and the control unit is input from the projector. Control of mirror inversion of the polarization direction of the projection light on the liquid crystal plate is performed in accordance with a control signal indicating mirror inversion of the image for the eye and the image for the left eye.
With the above-described configuration, according to the present invention, a function that allows the viewer to set the mirror inversion of the image generally mounted on the projector depending on whether the number of reflections is an even number or an odd number is used. By using a switching signal as to whether to perform left-right reversal or not as a control signal, it is possible to control mirror reversal of the polarization direction projected onto the screen. Therefore, the viewer is not aware of switching of the polarization direction of the projection light, is easy for the viewer to use, and it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for controlling the polarization controller in the projector, and the configuration of the polarization controller Is also simplified.

The projector system of the present invention is provided corresponding to the first projector that emits the projection light of the image for the right eye, the second projector that emits the projection light of the image for the left eye, and the right projector. A first polarization control device including a first liquid crystal plate that polarizes a polarization direction of the projection light of the ophthalmic image, and a first control unit that controls the liquid crystal plate; and a second polarization projector corresponding to the second projector. The second liquid crystal plate that polarizes the polarization direction of the projection light of the left-eye image, and the polarization of the projection light of the left-eye image in a polarization direction different from the right-eye image by controlling the liquid crystal plate. A second polarization control device including a second control unit that controls a direction, and the first control unit inputs from the first projector, and the first projector performs mirror reversal of the right-eye image. Control signal indicating In accordance with the control, the polarization direction of the projection light on the first liquid crystal plate is controlled to be mirror-inverted, and the second control unit is input from the second projector, and the second projector mirror-inverts the left-eye image. In accordance with a control signal indicating that the projection is performed, control is performed to mirror-invert the polarization direction of the projection light on the second liquid crystal plate.
With the above-described configuration, according to the present invention, even in the configuration in which the projection light of the right-eye image and the left-eye image is emitted from each of the different first projector and second projector, A control signal for switching whether or not to reverse the image emitted from each of the first projector and the second projector by using a mechanism in which a viewer controls mirror reversal of a generally mounted image. As described above, it is possible to control the mirror inversion of the polarization direction projected by the first polarization control device and the second polarization control device respectively corresponding to the first projector and the second projector. Therefore, since it is not necessary for the viewer to switch the polarization direction of the projection light depending on whether the number of reflections is even or odd, it is easy for the viewer to use and the projector system configuration is also simple. .

The projector system of the present invention uses polarized glasses including right-eye glasses provided with an optical element that transmits first polarized light and left-eye glasses provided with an optical element that transmits second polarized light. In a projector system for appreciating a 3D image, when setting to not perform mirror inversion processing, the projection light of the right eye image out of the right eye image and the left eye image is emitted, and the mirror inversion processing is performed. In the case of setting to perform, the first projector that emits the projection light of the image for the left eye, and in the case of setting not to perform the mirror inversion process, for the left eye of the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye emits projection light image, when the setting for performing the mirror-reversal processing, a second projector for emitting projection light of the right eye image, provided corresponding to the first projector, from the first projector It said first polarization controller polarized in the first polarization which is previously fixed polarization of the projected light, provided corresponding to the second projector, the projection light polarization from the second projector the second polarization control device for polarizing the second polarized light different from previously fixed to the first polarization, wherein the mirror reversal processing, the number of reflections of the projection lights until they are incident on the polarized glasses is even Whether or not to control the mirror inversion process is set based on each of the cases of and odd .
An image control method according to the present invention includes polarizing glasses including right-eye glasses provided with an optical element that transmits first polarized light and left-eye glasses provided with an optical element that transmits second polarized light. This is an image control method for appreciating a 3D image , and when the first projector is set not to perform the mirror inversion process, the projection light of the right eye image out of the right eye image and the left eye image is projected. In the case of setting to perform the mirror reversal process, the process of emitting the projection light of the left eye image, and in the case where the second projector is set to not perform the mirror reversal process, the right eye image and the left eye When the projection light of the left-eye image of the eye image is set to perform the mirror inversion process, the projection light of the right-eye image is emitted and the first projector is provided. A first polarization control device comprising the first projector; A process of polarizing the polarized light of the projection light from the projector into the first polarized light that is fixed in advance, and a second polarization control device provided corresponding to the second projector includes the projection from the second projector. Reflecting the polarization of light until the mirror inversion processing is incident on the polarizing glasses. number characterized that you whether or not to control the mirror inversion process are set based on the case of each of the even and odd.
With the configuration described above, according to the present invention, the first polarization controller is maintained in a state in which the projection light from the first projector is polarized to the first polarization, and the projection light from the second projector is diverted to the second polarization. Even in the configuration in which the second polarization control device is maintained in a state of being polarized to light, the projector generally uses a mechanism that controls the mirror inversion of the image mounted on the projector, and the first projector and the second projector. The setting of the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye projected from each of the first projector and the second projector is exchanged by using a switching signal as to whether or not the image emitted from each of the projectors is reversed horizontally. Can be controlled. Therefore, it is necessary for the viewer to switch between displaying the right-eye image and the left-eye image on the first or second projector depending on whether the number of reflections is even or odd. Therefore, it is easy to use for viewers and the configuration of the projector system is simplified.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a projector system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the polarization control apparatus 2 in this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of performing polarization control of the polarization control device 2 in the projector system 100 according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structural example of the projector system 200 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement which performs the polarization control of the polarization control apparatuses 2A and 2B in the projector system 200 in 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by an image control apparatus in a projector system 200 according to a third embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration example of a projector system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a projector system 100 includes a projector 1, a polarization control device 2, a screen 3, and polarized glasses 4.
The projector 1 alternately emits left-eye image data and right-eye image data sequentially input from an external device as projection lights of the left-eye image and the right-eye image, respectively, in a time division manner. In the present embodiment, the projector 1 emits the projection light of the left-eye image and the right-eye image as linearly polarized light.

The polarization control device 2 corresponds to the left-eye image and the right-eye image, respectively, with the polarization directions of the projection light of the left-eye image and the right-eye image incident from the projector 1 (set in advance). ) A conversion process for converting into the polarization direction is performed, and the converted projection light is emitted. For example, in the present embodiment, the polarization control device 2 polarizes each of the left eye image and the right eye image into left circularly polarized light or right circularly polarized light having different polarization directions.
The screen 3 reflects the projection light of the left-eye image and the right-eye image incident from the polarization controller 2 on the screen surface, so that the polarization direction is reversed left and right (that is, mirror-inverted). Emits as light.
The polarizing glasses 4 are provided with an optical element that transmits right circularly polarized light in the left eye side glass 4L and an optical element that transmits left circularly polarized light in the right eye side glass 4R.
Thereby, in this embodiment, the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image alternately emitted from the projector 1 is incident on each of the left eye and the right eye via the polarizing glasses 4, respectively. Let the viewer appreciate the 3D image.

As described above, in the projector system 100 described above, the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image emitted from the projector 1 is reflected once by the screen 3 and emitted from the polarization control device 2. It is configured on the assumption that the polarization direction of light is reversed left and right.
However, as described above, in the case of rear projection using a projector or front projection with an even number of reflections, the polarization direction of the projection light emitted from the polarization controller 2 reaches the polarizing glasses 4 without being inverted. Will do. In this case, as already described, the polarization direction of the projection light is opposite to the transmission characteristics of the left eye glass and the right eye glass of the polarizing glasses 4, and the right eye image is displayed on the viewer's left eye and the left eye is displayed on the right eye. The projected light of the image for use will enter, and a 3D image with a reverse perspective will be appreciated.

Therefore, when the number of reflections is an odd number, the polarization control device 2 in the present embodiment emits the polarization direction of the incident projection light from the linearly polarized light as the right-circularly polarized light, and emits the projection light of the right-eye image as the right-circular polarization. The image projection light is polarized into left circularly polarized light and emitted. As a result, the polarization direction of the projection light is reversed left and right with respect to the polarization directions of the optical elements of the left eye side glass 4L and the right eye side glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4.
On the other hand, when the number of reflections is an even number, the polarization control device 2 emits the projection light of the right-eye image from the linearly polarized light as the left circularly polarized light, and the left-eye projection light. Is polarized into right circularly polarized light and emitted. As a result, the polarization direction of the projection light is a polarization direction that is not horizontally reversed with respect to the polarization directions of the optical elements of the left eye side glass 4L and the right eye side glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4.

The projector 1 includes polarized light including image identification information indicating either a right-eye image or a left-eye image for each switching period between the projection light of the left-eye image and the projection light of the right-eye image emitted in a time-sharing manner. A switching control signal for instructing switching of the direction is output to the polarization controller 2.
In addition, the switching control signal includes information indicating a left / right reversal process for instructing left / right reversal (mirror reversal) of each of the left eye image and the right eye image. Here, when the number of reflections of the projection light is an even number, the image emitted from the projector 1 is not horizontally reversed, but when the number of reflections is an odd number, the image emitted from the projector 1 is horizontally reversed. For this reason, the viewer performs setting for the projector 1 to control the horizontal reversal of the image emitted from the projector 1 in accordance with the number of reflections. In accordance with the setting of the left / right reversal performed by the viewer, the projector 1 adds information indicating that the left / right reversal processing of the image is performed to the switching control signal when the number of reflections is odd, while the number of reflections is even. In this case, information indicating that the horizontal reversal processing of the image is not performed is added to the switching control signal and output to the polarization control device 2.

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the polarization control device 2 in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional structure of the polarization control device 2.
The polarization control device 2 of the present embodiment is configured as an active phase difference plate composed of a polarizing plate 21 and a liquid crystal plate 22. In the present embodiment, the polarization controller 2 sets the left eye image projection light as the left circular polarization for the right circular polarization of the left eye side glass 4L of the polarizing glasses 4 and the left circular polarization of the right eye side glass 4R. A case where the right-eye image is right-circularly polarized light will be described as left-right reversal (mirror reversal) processing.

The polarizing plate 21 has a transmission axis that coincides with the polarization direction of linearly polarized light that is the projection light of the image emitted from the projector 1, and only the linearly polarized light emitted from the projector 1 is supplied to the liquid crystal plate 22 at the next stage. The light is emitted.
The liquid crystal plate 22 is configured by arranging liquid crystal elements, and has a slow axis of 45 ° with respect to the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light described above. It is switched to either / 4 or -λ / 4 by the control unit 23 described later.

When the switching control signal supplied from the projector 1 indicates that the switching control signal is to perform the left / right reversing process, the control unit 23 linearly projects the projection light of the left-eye image based on the image identification information. The liquid crystal plate 22 is controlled such that the polarized light is converted into left circularly polarized light, and the projection light of the right-eye image is converted from linearly polarized light into right circularly polarized light.
On the other hand, when the switching control signal supplied from the projector 1 indicates that the switching control signal does not perform the left-right reversing process, the control unit 23 projects the left-eye image based on the image identification information. The liquid crystal plate 22 is controlled so that the light is converted from linearly polarized light to right circularly polarized light and the projection light of the right-eye image is converted from linearly polarized light to left circularly polarized light.

As a result, the polarization control device 2 uses the left-eye side glass of the polarizing glasses 4 to change the polarization direction of the left-eye image in the case of rear projection or front projection with an even number of reflections (hereinafter referred to as an even number of reflections). The polarization direction is converted so that the right circular polarization is the same as the polarization direction of 4L, and the polarization direction of the right-eye image is the same as the left circular polarization of the right eye side glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4.
In addition, the polarization control device 2 uses the polarization direction of the left-eye image of the left eye side glass 4L of the polarizing glasses 4 in the case of front projection with the odd number of reflections (hereinafter referred to as the odd number of reflections). The polarization direction of the right eye image is changed so that the polarization direction of the right eye image is different from the polarization direction of the right eye side glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4.

  That is, when the number of reflections is an even number, the polarization control device 2 changes the polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image with respect to the left-eye side glass 4L and the right-eye side glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4. When the number of reflections is an odd number, the polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image is changed to the left-eye side glass 4L of the polarizing glasses 4. In addition, the polarization treatment is performed so as to have a reversal relationship with the polarization direction of each of the right eye side glass 4R.

Instead of the liquid crystal plate 22 described above, a mechanical light modulation element that inserts / removes an arbitrary retardation plate instead of a liquid crystal plate, or a light modulation device that switches between two or more types of liquid crystal plate retardation plates, or a liquid crystal plate These phase difference conversion elements may be used.
Further, when only the polarization state of the light emitted from the projector 1 is aligned in the polarization direction necessary for the polarization of the liquid crystal plate 22, the polarizing plate 21 can be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 1, the polarization control device 2 may be configured as a separate device from the projector 1 or may be built in the projector 1.

Next, FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of performing polarization control of the polarization control device 2 in the projector system 100 according to the first embodiment.
Usually, the viewer sets whether or not to reverse the image to be viewed to the projector 1 when the number of reflections of the projection light is an even number and when the number of reflections of the projection light is an odd number. Do. That is, when the number of times of reflection of the projection light is an even number, the viewer can view the image emitted from the projector 1 as an image that is not inverted. On the other hand, when the number of reflections of the projected light is an odd number, the viewer views the image emitted from the projector 1 as a horizontally reversed image so as to be reflected in the mirror.

For this reason, the viewer sets whether to reverse the image projected from the projector 1 depending on whether the configuration of the projector 1 is set so that the number of reflections of the projected light is even or odd. Need to do.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the horizontal direction reversal of the polarization direction is performed depending on whether the number of reflections of the projected light is even or odd, while the image is horizontally reversed depending on whether the number of reflections of the projected light is even or odd. It is configured to synchronize the processing to be performed. As a result, the projector system 100 is configured so that when the viewer sets the left / right reversal processing of the image to the projector 1, the polarization control device 2 performs the left / right reversal processing of the polarization direction at the same time. Hereinafter, the operation of performing polarization control of the polarization control device 2 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

Step S1:
The viewer makes a setting for the projector 1 as to whether or not to reverse the image to be viewed. At this time, the viewer uses an input means of the projector 1, for example, a selector switch or a menu screen displayed in the projection image or a window selection button displayed on the operation liquid crystal panel (not shown) of the projector 1. Set whether to flip horizontally.

Step S2:
The projector 1 determines whether the viewer's left / right inversion setting is a setting for instructing that the image is not to be reversed horizontally or a setting for instructing to invert the image to the left / right.
Here, the projector 1 advances the process to step S3 when the viewer's left / right reversal setting indicates that left / right reversal is set, whereas the viewer 1 indicates that the viewer's left / right reversal setting indicates that left / right reversal is not performed. Then, the process proceeds to step 5.

Step S3:
Next, the projector 1 controls the internal video display element, performs processing so that the left and right sides of the image are reversed, and emits projection light.
Then, the projector 1 synchronizes the polarization control device 2 with the timing of switching from one of the left-eye image and the right-eye image to the other for each display cycle, so that the left-eye image and the right-eye image are displayed. A switching control signal including image identification information and information indicating that image left / right reversal processing is performed is output to the polarization controller 2.

Step S4:
Next, in the polarization control device 2, when a switching control signal including information indicating the left / right inversion processing is supplied from the projector 1, the control unit 23 responds to the image identification signal, that is, the switching timing of the image, that is, the switching. The control of the liquid crystal plate 22 is switched in synchronization with the timing at which the control signal is supplied.
At this time, the control unit 23 in the polarization controller 2 positions the liquid crystal plate 22 so as to polarize the linearly polarized light to the left circularly polarized light with respect to the liquid crystal plate 22 in the period in which the projection light of the left-eye image is emitted. A control signal with a phase difference of −λ / 4 is output.
In addition, the control unit 23 in the polarization control device 2 causes the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to polarize the linearly polarized light into the right circularly polarized light with respect to the liquid crystal plate 22 in the period in which the projection light of the right-eye image is emitted. A control signal with λ / 4 is output.

Then, the liquid crystal plate 22 converts the linearly polarized projection light supplied from the projector 1 via the polarizing plate 21 from the linearly polarized light to the left circle in the case of an image for the left eye according to a control signal supplied from the control unit 23. On the other hand, in the case of an image for the right eye, the light is polarized from linearly polarized light to right circularly polarized light and emitted.
Thereby, when the number of reflections is an odd number, the polarization control device 2 uses the left-right reversal processing of the image and the left-eye side glass 4L and the right-eye side glass 4R in the polarizing glasses 4 simultaneously with the left-right reversal of the image. The polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image is converted into a horizontally reversed state with respect to the polarization direction of each of the optical elements.

Step S5:
Next, the projector 1 controls the internal video display element to emit image projection light without inverting the left and right sides of the image.
Then, when the projector 1 does not perform left-right reversal of the left-eye image and the right-eye image, the projector 1 switches the polarization control device 2 from one of the left-eye image and the right-eye image to the other for each display cycle. In synchronization with the switching timing, a switching control signal including information indicating that left-right reversal is not performed, including image identification information of the left-eye image and the right-eye image, is output to the polarization control device 2.

Step S6:
Next, in the polarization control device 2, when switching control instructing not to perform left-right reversal is supplied from the projector 1, the control unit 23 responds to the image identification signal, that is, the switching timing of images, that is, switching The control of the liquid crystal plate 22 is switched in synchronization with the timing at which the control signal is supplied.
At this time, the polarization control device 2 sets the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to λ / so that the linearly polarized light is polarized to the right circularly polarized light with respect to the liquid crystal plate 22 in the period in which the projection light of the image for the left eye is emitted. 4 is output.
In addition, the polarization control device 2 sets the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to −λ / so that the linearly polarized light is polarized to the left circularly polarized light with respect to the liquid crystal plate 22 in the period in which the projection light of the right-eye image is emitted. 4 is output.
That is, the polarization control device 2 emits the projection light of the left-eye image incident from the projector 1 as right circular polarization, and the projection light of the right-eye image incident from the projector 1 as the left circular polarization, and emits them.

Then, the liquid crystal plate 22 emits the linearly polarized projection light supplied from the projector 1 via the polarizing plate 21 from the linearly polarized light to the right circularly polarized light in the case of the image for the left eye, In the case of an ophthalmic image, the light is polarized from the linearly polarized light to the left circularly polarized light and emitted.
Thereby, when rear projection or reflection is an even number of times and the image is not horizontally reversed, the polarization control device 2 performs polarization of the optical elements of the left eye side glass 4L and the right eye side glass 4R in the polarization glasses 4. The polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image is converted to a state that is not horizontally reversed with respect to the direction.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the viewer's left eye is linked to the viewer's left eye according to the case where the number of reflections is an even number and an odd number in conjunction with the setting of the left / right reversal processing of the image to the projector 1. The polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image incident on the polarizing glasses 4 is determined so that the left-eye image and the right-eye image are incident on the right-eye. The polarization controller 2 can convert the polarization direction of the projection light so as to correspond to the transmission characteristics of the optical elements of the glass 4L and the right eye side glass 4R.

For this reason, according to this embodiment, the setting of the polarization direction of the polarization controller 2 is set with respect to the polarization direction of the optical element of the polarizing glasses 4 according to whether the number of reflections is an even number or an odd number. There is an effect that it is easy to use because the viewer does not need to perform processing such as changing, and the viewer simply performs processing for setting only the horizontal reversal of the image.
Further, according to the present embodiment, since the setting for performing the horizontal reversal of the image and the horizontal reversal of the polarization direction of the projection light is performed by the same input unit, the extra input unit does not increase and the setting input unit Can be simplified.

<Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration example of a projector system 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 4, the projector system 200 includes a projector 1A, a projector 1B, a polarization control device 2A, a polarization control device 2B, a screen 3, and polarization glasses 4.
The projector 1A extracts left-eye image data from left-eye image data and right-eye image data sequentially input from an external device, using the left-eye identification information included in the left-eye image data, and extracts the left The projection light of the ophthalmic image is emitted as, for example, linearly polarized light in the embodiment.
The projector 1B extracts right-eye image data from left-eye image data and right-eye image data sequentially input from an external device, using right-eye identification information included in the right-eye image data, and extracts the right The projection light of the ophthalmic image is emitted as, for example, linearly polarized light in the embodiment.

The polarization control device 2A performs conversion processing for converting the polarization direction of the projection light of the left-eye image incident from the projector 1A into the polarization direction corresponding to the left-eye image, and emits the converted projection light. .
The polarization control device 2B performs conversion processing for converting the polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image incident from the projector 1B into the polarization direction corresponding to the right-eye image, and emits the converted projection light. .
The screen 3 emits the polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image emitted from each of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B as the polarization direction reversed left and right by the reflection of the screen surface. .
The polarized glasses 4 have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

  With the configuration of the projector system 200 described above, the left eye image projection light emitted from the projector 1A is incident on the left eye via the left eye side glass 4L of the polarizing glasses 4, and the right eye emitted from the projector 1B. The projection light of the image for use is incident on the right eye through the right eye side glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4 to allow the viewer to appreciate the 3D image.

  The configuration of the projector system 200 described above is, for example, similar to the first embodiment, reflected by the screen 3 once (the number of reflections is an odd number), that is, the projection of the left-eye image emitted from the projector 1A. Each of the polarization directions of the light and the projection light of the right-eye image emitted from the projector 1B is reversed left and right until it reaches the polarizing glasses 4 after being projected from each of the polarization control device 2A and the polarization control device 2B. It is configured on the assumption that

  However, as described above, even when two different projectors 1A and 1B are used, in the case of front projection with an even number of reflections, the polarization direction of the projection light emitted from the projectors 1A and 1B is polarization control. The polarized glasses 4 are reached without being inverted from the polarization direction emitted from each of the devices 2A and 2B. In this case, as described above, the projection light of the right-eye image is incident on the viewer's left eye and the left-eye image is incident on the right eye, and a 3D image with a reverse perspective is viewed. Become.

Therefore, when the number of reflections is an odd number, the polarization control device 2 </ b> A according to the present embodiment transmits the polarization direction of the projection light of the incident left eye image through the optical element of the left eye side glass 4 </ b> L of the polarizing glasses 4. Polarization direction reversed left and right with respect to the polarization direction, that is, linearly polarized light is emitted as left circularly polarized light.
On the other hand, when the number of times of reflection is an even number, the polarization controller 2 </ b> A has a polarization direction that matches the polarization direction of the projection light of the incident left eye image with the polarization direction that the left eye side glass 4 </ b> L optical element of the polarizing glasses 4 transmits. Direction, that is, linearly polarized light is emitted as right circularly polarized light.

Similarly, when the number of reflections is an odd number, the polarization control device 2B changes the polarization direction of the incident light of the right-eye image to the polarization direction transmitted by the optical element of the right-eye glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4. On the other hand, the polarization direction reversed left and right, that is, linearly polarized light is emitted as right circularly polarized light.
On the other hand, when the number of reflections is an even number, the polarization control device 2B makes the polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image incident coincide with the polarization direction transmitted by the right-eye glass 4R optical element of the polarizing glasses 4. Direction, that is, linearly polarized light is emitted as left circularly polarized light.

The projector 1A outputs a switching control signal including information indicating whether to perform left / right reversal processing of the left-eye image to the polarization control device 2A at every switching cycle of the left-eye image to be emitted.
Similarly to the projector 1A, the projector 1B sends a switching control signal indicating whether or not the right-eye image is to be reversed horizontally to the polarization control device 2B at every switching period of the projection light of the emitted right-eye image. Output.

Next, in the present embodiment, each of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B has the same configuration as the polarization control device 2 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Only operations different from those of the polarization control device 2 of the first embodiment will be described below.
When the number of reflections is an odd number, the polarization control device 2A emits the polarization direction of the projection light of the incident left eye image as left circularly polarized light different from the polarization direction of the optical element of the left eye side glass 4L of the polarizing glasses 4. (The mirror surface is inverted and emitted). On the other hand, when the number of times of reflection is an even number, the polarization controller 2 </ b> A has a right circle that matches the polarization direction of the incident light of the left-eye image with the polarization direction of the optical element of the left-eye glass 4 </ b> L of the polarizing glasses 4. Output as polarized light.

  In addition, the polarization control device 2B in the present embodiment, when the number of reflections is an odd number, the polarization direction of the projection light of the incident right eye image is the polarization direction of the optical element of the right eye side glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4 The light is emitted as different right circularly polarized light (emitted by performing mirror inversion). On the other hand, when the number of reflections is an even number, the polarization control device 2B matches the polarization direction of the incident light of the right-eye image that coincides with the polarization direction of the optical element of the right-eye glass 4R of the polarizing glasses 4. Output as polarized light.

  That is, in the case of rear projection or front projection with an even number of reflections, the polarization control device 2A has a polarization direction of the projection light of the image for the left eye and a polarization direction of the optical element transmitted through the left eye side glass 4L of the polarization glasses 4 In the case of front projection with an odd number of reflections, the polarization direction of the projection light of the left eye image and the left eye side of the polarizing glasses 4 The polarization direction of the projection light of the image for the left eye is controlled so that the polarization direction transmitted through the optical element in the glass 4L is reversed left and right.

  In addition, in the case of rear projection or front projection with an even number of reflections, the polarization controller 2 </ b> B has a polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image and a polarization direction of the optical element transmitted through the right-eye glass 4 </ b> R of the polarizing glasses 4. Is controlled so that the polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image is controlled, and in the case of front projection with an odd number of reflections, the polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image and the right eye side of the polarizing glasses 4 The polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image is controlled so that the polarization direction of the optical element in the glass 4R that is transmitted horizontally is reversed.

Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of performing polarization control of the polarization controllers 2A and 2B in the projector system 200 according to the second embodiment.
Usually, as in the first embodiment, the viewer appreciates each of the projectors 1A and 1B when the number of reflections of the projected light is an even number and when the number of reflections of the projection light is an odd number. Sets whether to perform horizontal reversal of the image to be performed. That is, when the number of times of reflection of the projection light is an even number, the viewer can view the image emitted from each of the projectors 1A and 1B as an uninverted image. On the other hand, when the number of reflections of the projected light is an odd number, the viewer views the image emitted from each of the projectors 1A and 1B as a horizontally reversed image so as to be reflected in the mirror.

For this reason, the viewer inverts the image projected from each of the projectors 1A and 1B depending on whether the configuration of the projector system 200 is set so that the number of reflections of the projected light is an even number or an odd number. It is necessary to set whether or not.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the horizontal direction reversal of the polarization direction is performed depending on whether the number of reflections of the projected light is even or odd, while the image is horizontally reversed depending on whether the number of reflections of the projected light is even or odd. The processing to be performed is configured to be synchronized. As a result, when the viewer sets the left / right reversal processing of the image to the projector 1, the left / right reversal processing of the polarization direction in each of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B is performed in conjunction with each of the projectors 1A and 1B. The projector system 200 is configured. Hereinafter, the operation of performing polarization control of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

Step S11:
The viewer performs setting for each of the projectors 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B as to whether or not the image to be viewed is reversed horizontally. At this time, the viewer is displayed on the input means of each of the projectors 1A and 1B, such as a changeover switch, a menu screen displayed in the projection image, or an operation liquid crystal panel (not shown) of the projectors 1A and 1B. Whether or not to reverse horizontally is set by a selection button of the window.

Step S12:
Each of the projectors 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B determines whether the viewer's left / right reversal setting is a setting that instructs not to flip left / right or a setting that instructs to flip left / right.
Here, if each of the projectors 1 and 1B indicates that the viewer's left / right reversal setting indicates that left / right reversal is performed, the process proceeds to step S13, while the viewer's left / right reversal setting does not perform left / right reversal. If so, the process proceeds to Step 15.

Step S13:
Next, each of the projectors 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B controls an internal video display element, performs processing so that the left and right sides of the image are reversed, and emits projection light.
Then, the projector 1A outputs a switching signal including information indicating that the polarization direction is reversed left and right in synchronization with the switching timing of the left-eye image to the polarization control device 2A.
Similarly, the projector 1B outputs a switching signal including information indicating that the polarization direction is reversed left and right to the polarization control device 2B in synchronization with the switching timing of the right-eye image.

Step S14:
Next, in the polarization controller 2 </ b> A, when the switching control signal including information indicating the left / right inversion processing is supplied from the projector 1 </ b> A, the control unit 23 reaches the switching timing of the image, that is, the timing at which the switching control signal is supplied. In synchronism, the control of the liquid crystal plate 22 is switched.
At this time, the polarization controller 2 </ b> A sets the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to −λ so that the linearly polarized light is polarized to the left circularly polarized light with respect to the liquid crystal plate 22 in the period in which the projection light of the left-eye image is emitted. A control signal of / 4 is output.
Similarly, in the polarization controller 2B, when the switching control signal including information indicating the left / right reversal processing is supplied from the projector 1B, the control unit 23 is set to the timing of image switching, that is, the timing of supplying the switching control signal. In synchronism, the control of the liquid crystal plate 22 is switched.
In addition, the polarization control device 2B sets the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to λ / 4 so that the linearly polarized light is polarized to the right circularly polarized light with respect to the liquid crystal plate 22 in the period in which the projection light of the right-eye image is emitted. A control signal is output.

In the polarization control device 2A, the liquid crystal plate 22 uses the control signal supplied from the control unit 23 to change the projection light of the left-eye image supplied from the projector 1A via the polarizing plate 21 from the linearly polarized light to the left circle. The light is polarized and emitted.
Further, in the polarization controller 2B, the liquid crystal plate 22 uses the control signal supplied from the control unit 23 to change the right eye image projection light supplied from the projector 1B via the polarizing plate 21 from the linearly polarized light to the right circle. The light is polarized and emitted.
As a result, when the image is flipped left and right with the odd number of reflections, the polarization controller 2 </ b> A uses the information for performing the left / right reversal processing of the image, so that the polarization controller 2 </ b> A simultaneously performs the left / right reversal of the image and The polarization direction of the projection light of the image for the left eye is converted into a horizontally reversed state with respect to the polarization direction of the optical element.
Similarly, in the case where the reflection is an odd number of times and the image is reversed horizontally, the polarization controller 2 </ b> B determines that the right eye side glass 4 </ b> R in the polarizing glasses 4 is simultaneously with the left-right reversal of the image based on the information for performing the image reversal processing. The polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image is converted into a horizontally reversed state with respect to the polarization direction of the optical element.

Step S15:
Next, each of the projectors 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B controls an internal video display element to emit image projection light without performing left / right reversal processing of the image.
If the left-eye image is not reversed horizontally, the projector 1A synchronizes with the image switching timing, and includes switching information including information indicating that the polarization direction of the projection light of the left-eye image is not reversed. A control signal is output to the polarization controller 2A.
Similarly, when the right-eye image is not reversed horizontally, the projector 1B synchronizes with the switching timing of the right-eye image and applies a switching control signal including information indicating that the right-eye image is not reversed horizontally. Output to the control device 2B.

Step S16:
Next, in the polarization controller 2 </ b> A, when a switching control signal including information indicating that left / right inversion is not performed is supplied from the projector 1 </ b> A, the control unit 23 corresponds to the image identification signal and the timing of image switching. That is, the control of the liquid crystal plate 22 is switched in synchronization with the timing at which the switching control signal is supplied.
At this time, the polarization controller 2A sets the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to λ / 4 so that the linearly polarized light is polarized to the right circularly polarized light with respect to the liquid crystal plate 22 when emitting the projection light of the image for the left eye. Output a control signal.
Similarly, in the polarization control device 2B, when a switching control signal including information indicating that left / right inversion is not performed is supplied from the projector 1B, the control unit 23 corresponds to the image identification signal and the timing of image switching. That is, the control of the liquid crystal plate 22 is switched in synchronization with the timing at which the switching control signal is supplied.
At this time, the polarization controller 2B sets the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to −λ / 4 so that the linearly polarized light is polarized to the left circularly polarized light with respect to the liquid crystal plate 22 when the projection light of the right-eye image is emitted. A control signal is output.

In the polarization controller 2A, the liquid crystal plate 22 polarizes and emits the projection light of the left-eye image supplied from the projector 1A via the polarizing plate 21 from linearly polarized light to right circularly polarized light.
On the other hand, in the polarization control device 2B, the liquid crystal plate 22 polarizes and emits the projection light of the right-eye image supplied from the projector 1B via the polarizing plate 21 from linearly polarized light to left circularly polarized light.
Thereby, when the number of rear projections or the number of reflections is an even number, each of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B has the polarization directions of the optical elements of the left eye side glass 4L and the right eye side glass 4R in the polarizing glasses 4 respectively. The polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image is converted into a coincident polarization direction. That is, the polarization control device 2A emits the projection light of the left-eye image incident from the projector 1A as right circular polarization, and the polarization control device 2B emits the projection light of the right-eye image incident from the projector 1B as the left circular polarization. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the viewer's left and right reversal processing settings are linked to the viewer's projectors 1A and 1B. The polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image incident on the polarizing glasses 4 is set to the left of the polarizing glasses 4 so that the left-eye image and the right-eye image are incident on the eyes. Each of the polarization controllers 2A and 2B can change the polarization direction of the projection light so as to correspond to the transmission characteristics of the optical elements of the eye side glass 4L and the right eye side glass 4R.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the polarization direction of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B is changed with respect to the polarization direction of the optical element of the polarizing glasses 4 in accordance with whether the number of reflections is an even number or an odd number. There is no need for the viewer to perform processing such as changing the setting, and the viewer simply performs processing for setting only the left-right reversal of the image, which is easy to use.
Further, according to the present embodiment, since the setting for performing the horizontal reversal of the image and the horizontal reversal of the polarization direction of the projection light is performed by the same input unit, the extra input unit does not increase and the setting input unit Can be simplified.

<Third Embodiment>
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The projector system of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the projector system 200 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, but the operation of performing polarization control of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B is different from the second embodiment. Different.

Next, only operations in which the present embodiment is different from the second embodiment will be described below. In the second embodiment, when the polarization directions of the left-eye image and the right-eye image are reversed between the rear projection and the front projection with an even number of reflections and the odd number of reflections, the polarization control device 2A, 2B is controlled. However, in the present embodiment, the polarization directions of the left-eye image and the right-eye image are reversed using another control method with the same configuration. The control method is a method of exchanging images displayed on the projectors 1A and 1B between rear projection and front projection with an even number of reflections and an odd number of reflections.
That is, the phase difference value given to the light passing through the polarization controllers 2A and 2B is fixed so that the projection light of the images of the projectors 1A and 1B reaches the polarizing glasses 4 with different polarization directions. Therefore, when switching between the case of reflecting an odd number of times and the case of rear projection or the case of a front projection with an even number of reflections, the images projected from the projectors 1A and 1B can be exchanged without controlling the polarization controller. The polarization direction of the projection light of the left eye image and the right eye image is reversed.

Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by the image control apparatus in the projector system 200 according to the third embodiment.
Usually, as in the case of the first embodiment, a viewer uses the projector system 200 to view an image to be viewed in an even number of times of reflection of the projected light and an odd number of times of reflection of the projected light. Set whether to flip horizontally. That is, when the number of times of reflection of the projection light is an even number, the viewer can view the image emitted from each of the projectors 1A and 1B as an uninverted image. On the other hand, when the number of reflections of the projected light is an odd number, the viewer views the image emitted from each of the projectors 1A and 1B as a horizontally reversed image so as to be reflected in the mirror.

For this reason, the viewer can reverse the image projected from each of the projectors 1A and 1B depending on whether the configuration of the projector 1 is set so that the number of reflections of the projected light is even or odd. It is necessary to set whether or not.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the horizontal direction reversal of the polarization direction is performed depending on whether the number of reflections of the projected light is even or odd, while the image is horizontally reversed depending on whether the number of reflections of the projected light is even or odd. It is configured to synchronize the processing to be performed. As a result, when the viewer sets image left-right reversal processing for the projector system 200, the left-right reversal processing of the polarization direction of the left-eye image and right-eye image is performed by exchanging the images output by the projectors 1A and 1B. The projector system 200 is configured to do so. However, in the present embodiment, the polarization controller 2A fixes the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to -λ / 4, and the polarization controller 2B fixes the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to λ / 4. Hereinafter, the operation performed by the image control apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step S21:
The viewer sets whether or not to reverse the image to be viewed to the projector system 200. At this time, the viewer selects an input means of the projector system 200, for example, a selector switch or a menu screen displayed in the projected image or a window displayed on the operation liquid crystal panels (not shown) of the projectors 1A and 1B. The button is used to set whether to flip left and right.

Step S22:
The projector system 200 determines whether the viewer's left / right reversal setting is a setting that instructs not to flip left / right or a setting that instructs to flip left / right.
Here, the projector 100 proceeds to step S <b> 23 when the viewer's left / right reversal setting indicates that left / right reversal is set, whereas the viewer 100 indicates that the viewer's left / right reversal setting indicates that left / right reversal is not performed. The process proceeds to step 25.

Step S23:
Next, each of the projectors 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B controls an internal video display element, performs processing so that the left and right sides of the image are reversed, and emits projection light.
Further, the projector 1A extracts and extracts left-eye image data from left-eye image data and right-eye image data sequentially input from an external device, using left-eye identification information included in the left-eye image data. The image extraction function is set so that the projected light of the left-eye image is emitted as, for example, linearly polarized light in the embodiment. The projector 1B extracts the right-eye image data from the left-eye image data and the right-eye image data sequentially input from the external device based on the right-eye identification information included in the right-eye image data, and extracts the extracted right-eye. For example, the image extraction function is set so that the projection light of the image for use is emitted as linearly polarized light in the embodiment.

Step S24:
In the polarization controller 2 </ b> A, the controller 23 always outputs a control signal for setting the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to −λ / 4. In the polarization controller 2B, the control unit 23 always outputs a control signal for setting the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to λ / 4.
Accordingly, the linearly polarized left-eye image emitted from the projector 1A is polarized by the polarization control device 2A and emitted to the left circularly polarized light. The linearly polarized right-eye image emitted from the projector 1B is polarized and emitted to the right circularly polarized light by the polarization controller 2B.

As a result, when the reflection is an odd number of times and the image is reversed horizontally, the projector 1A emits the left-right inverted image toward the polarization control device 2A according to the information for performing the left-right reversal processing of the image, The polarization controller 2 </ b> A converts the polarization direction of the projection light of the left-eye image into a horizontally reversed state with respect to the polarization direction of the optical element of the left eye side glass 4 </ b> L in the polarization glasses 4.
Similarly, in the case where the image is reversed left and right with an odd number of reflections, the projector 1B emits the right-eye reversed image toward the polarization control measure 2B according to the information for performing the left-right reversal processing of the image, The polarization control device 2B converts the polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image into a horizontally reversed state with respect to the polarization direction of the optical element of the right-eye glass 4R in the polarization glasses 4.

Step S25:
Next, each of the projectors 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B controls an internal video display element to emit image projection light without performing left / right reversal processing of the image.
In addition, the projector 1A extracts and extracts right-eye image data from the left-eye image data and right-eye image data sequentially input from the external device, using right-eye identification information included in the right-eye image data. The image extraction function is set so that the projected light of the right-eye image is emitted as, for example, linearly polarized light in the embodiment. The projector 1B extracts the left-eye image data from the left-eye image data and the right-eye image data sequentially input from the external device based on the left-eye identification information included in the left-eye image data, and extracts the extracted left-eye. For example, the image extraction function is set so that the projection light of the image for use is emitted as linearly polarized light in the embodiment.

Step S26:
In the polarization controller 2 </ b> A, the controller 23 always outputs a control signal for setting the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to −λ / 4. In the polarization controller 2B, the control unit 23 always outputs a control signal for setting the phase difference of the liquid crystal plate 22 to λ / 4.
Therefore, the linearly polarized right-eye image emitted from the projector 1A is polarized to the right circularly polarized light and emitted by the polarization control device 2A. The linearly polarized left-eye image emitted from the projector 1B is polarized to left circularly polarized light by the polarization controller 2B and emitted.

Accordingly, when the number of rear projections or reflections is an even number and the image is not reversed horizontally, the projector 1A uses the information for not performing the left / right reversal processing of the image to cause the projector 1A to convert the right-eye image that has not been horizontally reversed. 2A, the polarization control device 2A converts the polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image into the same polarization direction with respect to the polarization direction of the optical element of the right-eye glass 4R in the polarization glasses 4. .
Similarly, when the number of rear projections or reflections is an even number, and the image is not horizontally reversed, the projector 1B uses the information not to perform the image horizontally reversing process to cause the projector 1B to control the polarization of the left-eye image that has not been horizontally reversed. 2B, the polarization controller 2B converts the polarization direction of the projection light of the image for the left eye into a polarization direction that matches the polarization direction of the optical element of the left eye side glass 4L in the polarization glasses 4. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the viewer's left and right reversal processing settings are linked to the viewer's projectors 1A and 1B. The polarization direction of the projection light of each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image incident on the polarizing glasses 4 is set to the left of the polarizing glasses 4 so that the left-eye image and the right-eye image are incident on the eyes. From the image data for the left eye and the image data for the right eye, which are sequentially input from the external device, each of the projectors 1A and 1B so as to correspond to the transmission characteristics of the optical elements of the eye side glass 4L and the right eye side glass 4R. By switching the image data to be extracted, the polarization directions of the projected left-eye image and right-eye image can be converted.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the projectors 1A and 1B sequentially input from the external device with respect to the polarization direction of the optical element of the polarizing glasses 4 according to whether the number of reflections is an even number or an odd number. The viewer does not need to perform processing such as changing the settings of the image data extracted from the left-eye image data and right-eye image data, and the viewer performs only the left-right inversion of the image. It has the effect of being easy to use.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the setting for performing the horizontal reversal of the image and the horizontal reversal of the polarization direction of the projection light is performed by the same input unit, the extra input unit does not increase, and the setting input unit Can be simplified.

  Further, in the third embodiment, the polarization control devices 2A and 2B are devices capable of controlling the phase difference including the control unit 23 and the liquid crystal plate 22, but the control unit 23 is eliminated and the control is performed instead of the liquid crystal plate 22. A phase difference plate having a fixed phase difference may be used. Since the retardation plate is less expensive than the liquid crystal plate and the control unit is not required, the costs of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B can be reduced.

Further, in the second and third embodiments, the projectors 1A and 1B are each described as being configured to include input means for setting the left / right reversal of the image. However, the projectors 1A and 1B are provided with one of the projectors 1A and 1B. Alternatively, only information indicating whether right / left inversion is possible may be supplied.
Also, the extraction (distribution) function of the left-eye image and the right-eye image described as being in each of the projectors 1A and 1B is provided in one of the projectors. A corresponding image may be supplied. In this case, when one projector is set to identify the left-eye image and the right-eye image based on the identification information between the left-eye image and the right-eye image, For the right eye. The other projector emits projection light of the supplied right-eye image.
In addition, the extraction (distribution) function of the left-eye image and the right-eye image described as being in each of the projectors 1A and 1B is provided independently as an external device, and an image corresponding to each projector is supplied. May be. In this case, the external device identifies the left-eye image and the right-eye image based on the identification information between the left-eye image and the right-eye image, supplies the left-eye image to one projector, and the other projector. Supplies the right eye image.

Further, in all of the first to third embodiments, the circularly polarized light described above may be used in the case of linearly polarized light instead of circularly polarized light, for example, a combination having different polarization directions of 90 ° between 45 ° and 135 °. There are similar issues.
In this configuration, in the case of the first embodiment, as the projection light emitted from the projector 1, the left-eye image and the right-eye image have, for example, an angle of 45 ° with respect to the y-axis (center line in mirror inversion). Output as linearly polarized light in the polarization direction. In the polarization controller 2, the polarizing plate 21 has a transmission axis of 45 degrees, and the liquid crystal plate 22 converts the polarization direction angle by 90 ° to 135 ° or 45 °. Control. Here, the polarization control device 2 controls the polarization direction of the projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image as described above depending on whether the number of reflections is even or odd. In the polarizing glasses 4, the left eye side glass 4L has a 135 ° transmission axis, and the right eye side glass 4R has a 45 ° transmission axis.

On the other hand, in the case of the second embodiment, as the projection light emitted from the projector 1A, the left-eye image is output as linearly polarized light having a polarization direction having an angle of 45 ° with respect to the y axis, for example. Further, as the projection light emitted from the projector 1B, the right-eye image is output as linearly polarized light having a polarization direction having an angle of 135 ° with respect to the y-axis, for example.
In the polarization controller 2A, the polarizing plate 21 has a transmission axis of 45 degrees, and the liquid crystal plate 22 converts the angle of the polarization direction by 90 ° to 135 ° or 45 °. Control unit 23 controls. On the other hand, in the polarization controller 2B, the polarizing plate 21 has a transmission axis of 135 degrees, and the liquid crystal plate 22 converts the angle of the polarization direction by 90 ° to 45 ° or 135 °. Control unit 23 controls. Here, each of the polarization control devices 2A and 2B controls the polarization direction of the projection light of the left-eye image and the right-eye image as described above depending on whether the number of reflections is even or odd. In the polarizing glasses 4, the left eye side glass 4L has a 135 ° transmission axis, and the right eye side glass 4R has a 45 ° transmission axis.

On the other hand, in the case of the third embodiment, the projection light emitted from the projector 1A is output as linearly polarized light having a polarization direction having an angle of 45 ° with respect to the y axis, for example. Further, as the projection light emitted from the projector 1B, for example, it is output as linearly polarized light having a polarization direction having an angle of 135 ° with respect to the y-axis.
Then, depending on whether the number of reflections is even or odd, the images (for the left eye and for the right eye) extracted by each projector are controlled as described above. In the polarizing glasses 4, the left eye side glass 4L has a 135 ° transmission axis, and the right eye side glass 4R has a 45 ° transmission axis.

  Further, the program for realizing the function of the control unit 23 in FIG. 2 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into the computer system and executed to convert the polarization. Control may be performed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, and a program that holds a program for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A, 1B ... Projector 2, 2A, 2B ... Polarization control apparatus 3 ... Screen 4 ... Polarized glasses 4L ... Left eye side glass 4R ... Right eye side glass 21 ... Polarizing plate 22 ... Liquid crystal plate 23 ... Control part

Claims (8)

A polarization control device that emits the projection light of the right-eye image and the left-eye image incident from the projector to the screen as different polarization directions,
A liquid crystal plate for changing the polarization direction of the projection light;
A control unit that controls the liquid crystal plate and sets the projection light of the right-eye image and the left-eye image to different polarization directions;
The control unit is interlocked with the mirror inversion processing of the image of the projector by a control signal input from the projector and indicating whether the projector performs mirror inversion of the right eye image and the left eye image, A polarization control device that performs control to reverse the direction of polarization of the projection light on a liquid crystal plate to a mirror surface.   When the control unit has an even number of reflections of the projection light, the polarization direction of the projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image is a preset polarization direction, and the reflection number is an odd number 2. The polarized light according to claim 1, wherein the polarization direction of the projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image is controlled to a polarization direction obtained by mirror-reversing a preset polarization direction. Control device. In the projector, the control signal is a signal indicating that mirror-inversion processing of the right-eye image and the left-eye image according to the number of reflections of the projection light is performed.
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control to mirror-invert the polarization directions of the projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image in synchronization with the control signal. 3. The polarization control device according to 2. A projector that emits projection light of each of the right-eye image and the left-eye image;
Polarization control comprising: a liquid crystal plate that polarizes the polarization direction of the projection light; and a control unit that controls the liquid crystal plate and sets the projection light of the right-eye image and the left-eye image to different polarization directions. And the device
In accordance with a control signal input from the projector and indicating that the projector performs mirror reversal of the right-eye image and left-eye image, the control unit performs mirror reversal of the polarization direction of the projection light on the liquid crystal plate. A projector system characterized by performing control. A first projector that emits projection light of an image for the right eye;
A second projector that emits projection light of the image for the left eye;
A first polarization control device provided corresponding to the first projector and including a first liquid crystal plate that polarizes the polarization direction of the projection light of the right-eye image, and a first control unit that controls the liquid crystal plate. And a second liquid crystal plate that is provided corresponding to the second projector and polarizes the polarization direction of the projection light of the left-eye image, and controls the liquid crystal plate to have a polarization direction different from that of the right-eye image. A second polarization control device including a second control unit that controls a polarization direction of the projection light of the left-eye image, and the first control unit is input from the first projector. In accordance with a control signal indicating that mirror image reversal of the right-eye image is performed, control is performed to mirror-invert the polarization direction of the projection light on the first liquid crystal plate, and the second control unit is input from the second projector. The first Projector system projector which is characterized in that the control according to the control signal indicating to perform mirror inversion of the left-eye image, which mirror inverts the polarization direction of the projection light in the second liquid crystal panel. It is a polarization control method for emitting the projection light of the right eye image and the left eye image incident from the projector to the screen as different polarization directions,
A process of polarizing the direction of polarization of the projection light by a liquid crystal plate;
A process in which a control unit controls the liquid crystal plate and sets the projection light of the right-eye image and the left-eye image to different polarization directions,
The control unit is interlocked with the mirror inversion processing of the image of the projector by a control signal input from the projector and indicating whether the projector performs mirror inversion of the right eye image and the left eye image, A polarization control method comprising performing control to reverse the direction of polarization of the projection light on a liquid crystal plate to a mirror surface. A projector for viewing a 3D image by using polarized glasses having right eye glasses provided with an optical element that transmits first polarized light and left eye glasses provided with an optical element that transmits second polarized light System,
In the case of setting not to perform the mirror reversal process, the projection light of the right eye image out of the right eye image and the left eye image is emitted, and in the case of the setting of performing the specular reversal process, the left eye image A first projector for emitting projection light;
In the case of setting not to perform the specular reversal process, in the case of the setting to emit projection light of the left eye image out of the right eye image and the left eye image and perform the specular reversal process, the right eye A second projector that emits projection light of the image for use ;
A first polarization control device that is provided corresponding to the first projector and polarizes the polarized light of the projection light from the first projector into a first fixed polarization;
A second polarization control device that is provided corresponding to the second projector and polarizes the polarized light of the projection light from the second projector into a second fixed polarization different from the first polarized light;
With
Whether or not to control the mirror inversion processing is set based on the cases where the number of reflections of the projected light before entering the polarizing glasses is an even number and an odd number. Projector system. An image for appreciating a 3D image using polarized glasses including right-eye glasses provided with an optical element that transmits first polarized light and left-eye glasses provided with an optical element that transmits second polarized light Control method,
When the first projector is set not to perform the mirror inversion process, the projection light of the right eye image out of the right eye image and the left eye image is projected and the mirror inversion process is performed. The process of emitting the projection light of the image for the left eye,
When the second projector is set not to perform the mirror reversal process, the projection light of the left eye image of the right eye image and the left eye image is set to perform the mirror reversal process. Emitting the projection light of the right-eye image;
A process in which a first polarization control device provided corresponding to the first projector polarizes the polarization of the projection light from the first projector to the first polarization fixed in advance;
A second polarization control device provided corresponding to the second projector polarizes the polarization of the projection light from the second projector into the second polarization fixed in advance different from the first polarization. The process of
Including
Whether or not to control the mirror inversion processing is set based on the cases where the number of reflections of the projection light until the mirror inversion processing enters the polarizing glasses is an even number and an odd number.
Image control wherein a call.

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